Section-insulator.



G. H. BOLUS.

SECTION INSULATOR.

APPLICATION FILED 05c. 20. law.

1 ,285,0Q6o Patented Nov. 19, 1918.-

FIG. 1 34 v a m m mroz GLENN H. BOLUS (1H0: nu;

GLENN HENRY IBOLUS,OF INIANSFIELD, OHIO. ASSIGNOR TO THE OHIO BRASS COMPANY, OFM'ANSFIELD, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

SECTION I1\TSULATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

PatentedNov. 1-9, 1918.

Application filed December 20, 1917. Serial No. 207,993.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GLENN H. BoLUs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mansfield, in the county of Richland and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Section-Insulators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to section insulators of the type used for dividing the overhead conductor or trolley wire of an electric railway into sections and insulating the sections one from the other and comprising means for connecting the sections so as to make them electrically continuous or to disconnect said sections one from the other for the purpose of controlling the current in the electric circuit.

One object of this invention is to provide an improved device of the character referred to which will be strong, durable and simple in construction, effective and eflicient in operation and which may be readily and conveniently installed into or removed from operative position.

Another object of the invention is to produce a section insulator provided with means for electrically connecting or disconnecting the adjacent ends of two conductors with out varying the tension of the conductors and comprising means for yieldingly maintaining said connecting means in or out of electrical engagement with said conductor ends.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character wherein the constructional arrangement of the various parts is such as not to form an obstruction in the path of or to interfere with the traveling collector of cars when the device is engaged for disconnecting the sections.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a section insulator having an insulation member provided with a plurality of sides rotatably mounted intermediate the adjacent ends of the conductors thereby ren dering the overhead construction more nearly continuous and eliminating the gaps or brealrs in the system for the traveling collector to encounter.

To the attainment of these ends and the accomplishment of other new and useful objects, 'as will appear, the invention consists in the features of novelty in the construction,

combination and arrangement of the several parts hereinafter more fully described and claimed and shown in the accompanying drawings illustrating the embodiment of the invention, and in which Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a section insulator constructed in accordance with the principles of my invention, a portion of the connecting bar being removed in order to illustrate the constructional arrangement of the various parts.

Fig. 2 is an end view of the device.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the device showing the end members as electrically connected by the switch blade.

Fig. 4 is a. similar view as Fig. 1 and illustratng the handle for actuating the switch blade and the means for yieldingly maintaining the same in either closed or open position, and showing also the lower portions of two insulators or supports to which the device is shown as being attached.

Fig. 5 is a view partly in section, taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1, illustrating the manner in which the insulation block is mounted.

Fig. 6 is a plan. view of the mechanism for readily and conveniently securing the device to insulated supports or the like.

Referring to the drawings in which like reference characters indicate the same parts in the different views (1) and (2) designate metallic end members provided with sockets (3) and (4) adapted to receive the ends of the insulation connecting bars (5) and (6) which are rigidly secured therein. The end members are formed with projections (7) and (8) having laterally extending arms (9) and (10) slotted to receive the contact members (11) and (12), the purpose of which will be described hereinafter. The projections (7) and (8) extend toward and are in alinement with each other, their lower surfaces being adapted to be engaged by the trolley wheel when the latter passes thereunder. Sockets (13) and (14) are provided in the exterior ends of and in alinement with the projections (7 and (8) and adapted to receive the respective ends of the conductors (15) and (16), which may be secured therein in anysuitable or desirable manner. A shaft (17 is rotatably mounted in suitable bearings provided in the insulation connecting bars (5) and (6), and carries a supporting member (18) provided with a flange mus-v1 (19), to which a switch blade is secured by the bolts (21). The switch blade (20) is mounted in alinement with and adapted by rotation to engage or disengage the contact members (11) and (12) thereby cally connecting the conductors (15) and (16), the pocket (22) is adapted to be positioned intermediate the projections (7) and (8), the end of the pocket providing a metallic surface on one side of the insulation member (23) for engagement with the trolley wheel, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawings.

The parts above referred to may be assembled by first arranging the insulator cOnnecting bars (5) and (6) within the sockets (3) .and (4) of the metallic end members (1) and (2), and then securing the parts to ether by means of the bolts as shown or 0t erwise. .The supporting member (18) having the switch blade (20) secured thereto and the insulation member (23) positioned in the pocket (22) thereof is then arranged in position between the bars (5) and (6) and the shaft (17 inserted. The shaft and the supporting member (18) may then be interlocked against relative rotation by inserting the pins as shown, or by any other suitable means.

A. handle (24) for actuating the shaft (17) is provided and has one end of a tension spring (25) connected thereto as indicated at (26), the other end of the spring being connected to a bracket (27), provided with cars (28), having threaded apertures adapted to receive adjusting screws (29),

the ends of which are adapted to engage and thereby limit the movement of the handle (24), which is yieldingly maintained in contact therewith by the spring (25) when moved in either direction for the purpose of preventing the accidental opening or closing of the switch.

For the purpose of readily and conveniently attaching the device to a support, an internally threaded sleeve (30) provided .with a polygonal flange (31) is rotatably I mounted upon a yoke (32) provided at each end of the device. The yokes (32) are preferably secured tothe end members (1) and (2) and are each provided with an er. ture adaptedto loosely receive a bolt F I 33) which engages the sleeve (30) and is inter locked against relative rotation therewith. Anadjusting collar 34) having a polygonal opening adapted to receive and engage the flange (31) for rotating the sleeve (30), surrounds the latter. The adjusting collar (34) is provided with a limited vertical movement and the exterior surface thereof is preferably formed for engagement with a -wrench, and is adapted, when the device is scribed, the combination of a pair of end members each comprising a projection which extends toward and in alinement with the other, a pair of nonconducting bars connecting the end members, an insulation member rotatably mounted intermediate the end members and in alinement with the projections, a fulcrumed switch blade between the nonconducting bars and in spaced relation with the insulation member and interlocked therewith against relative rotation adapted to co-act with the end members thereby to electrically connect or disconnect them, and means for actuating the switch blade.

2. In mechanism of the character described, the, combination of a pair of end members comprising projections extending toward and in alinement with each other, parallel nonconducting bars connecting the end members, an insulation member having a plurality of sides rotatably mounted intermediate the end members and in alinement with the projections, a fulcrumed switch blade between the nonconducting bars and in spaced relation with the insulation member and interlocked therewith against relative rotation adapted by manipulation to engage or disengage the end members thereby to electrically connect or disconnect them, a handle for manipulating the switch blade, and means for attaching the device to a support.

3. In mechanism of the character de scribed, the combination of a pair of end members, nonconducting bars connecting the end members, an insulation member having a plurality of sides rotatably mounted intermediate the end members, a metallic cover on one of the sides of the latter, a fulcrumed switch blade mounted between the bars in spaced relation with the insulation member and interlocked therewith and in approxi- -mately parallel relation with the metallic switch blade, and means engaging the rocking means for yieldingly maintaining the switch blade in or out of contactual engagement with the end members.

4. In a device of the character described, the combination of a pair of end members provided with sockets for attaching conductors thereto and having alined surfaces to engage a trolley wheel, parallel nonconducting bars connecting the end members, a shaft rotatably mounted in the bars, an insulation member provided with a plurality of sides mounted on the shaft between the bars and in alinement with and intermediate said alined surfaces, a metallic cover on one side of the insulation member, a switch blade mounted on the shaft between the bars and spaced apart from the insulation member and adapted by rotation of the shaft to be rocked into or out of engagement with the end members, a handle on the shaft, and means for yieldingly maintaining the switch blade in or out of engagement with the end members.

5. In a device of the character described, the combination of a pair of end members provided with sockets for attaching conductors thereto, a pair of nonconducting bars connecting the members, a bearing in each of the bars, an insulation member provided with a plurality of sides between the bars and intermediate the end members, a switch blade between the bars and in interlocked spaced relation with the insulation member, a shaft for the switch blade and the insulation member rotatably mounted in said bearings, a handle for turning the shaft thereby to cause the switch blade to electrically connect or disconnect the end members, means for limiting the movement of the handle in either direction by engagement therewith, and means for yieldingly maintaining the handle in engagement with the last mentioned means.

6. In a device of the character described, the combination of a pair of end members provided with alined surfaces to engage a trolley wheel and having means for attaching wires thereto, parallel nonconducting bars connecting the end members, a bearing in each of the bars, a shaft rotatably mounted in the bearings, an insulation member having a plurality of sides mounted on the shaft between the bars and intermediate said alined surfaces, a metallic surface on one side of the insulation member and in alinement with said alined surfaces, a switch blade on the shaft between the bars and spaced apart from the insulation member, a handle on the shaft for turning the latter thereby to cause the switch blade to electrically connect or disconnect the end members, and means for attaching the device to a support.

7 In a section insulator for electrical conductors, the combination of two end members comprising projections extending toward and in alinement with each other and insulated from each other, insulation bars connecting the members, a switch blade between the bars, a blade support rotatably mounted in the bars, an insulation member having a plurality of sides mounted on the blade support in alinement with said projections and in spaced relation with the blade, a handle secured to the blade support for operating the same, and means for attaching the device to a support.

8. A section insulator embodying two end members, each provided with a projection which extends toward and in alinement with the other and having their lower surfaces disposed in the same plane, a pair of nonconducting bars connecting the members, a shaft rotatably mounted in the .bars, a switch blade mounted on the shaft between the bars, and a handle for operating the shaft, in combination with an insulation member hav ing a plurality of sides mounted on the shaft between the bars in alinement with said projection and in spaced relation with the switch blade, a metallic surface on one side of the insulation member disposed in the same plane as the lower surfaces of said projections, stops for the handle, and means for yieldingly maintaining the handle in engagement with the stops.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

GLENN HENRY BOLUS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

